Machine for folding and cutting sheets of metal



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

T. L. THOMAS. MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND CUTTING SHEETS 0F METAL. No. 499,807.

PatentedJ ne 20, 1893.

(NO Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. T. L. THOMAS. 9 MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND CUTTING SHEETS OF. METAL.

Patented Julie 20, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE L. THOMAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I

MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND CUTTING SHEETS OF METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,807, dated June 20, 1893. Application filed July 27', 1891. Serial No. 400,816. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE L. THOMAS, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Folding and Cutting Sheets of Metal to be Used in the Manufacture of Tin-Plate and for other Purposes, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section through the improved apparatus embodying my invention, partsbeing'removed. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical transverse section showing simply the shear mechanism, and cylinder for operating the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of myim proved apparatus. Fig.4 is an end view, parts being omitted. Fig. 5 is a view showing the arrangement of the sets of three high rolls, illustrated in Fig. 1.

My present invention while applicable for other purposes is more especially designed for the preparation of sheets of iron or steel to be used in the manufacture of tin plate.

In the manufacture of tin plate it is the common practice to rough down the bars from which the sheets are to be rolled, by passing the same a number of times through a single set of two rolls; adjusting the rolls at the end of, say three passes, returning the plate to the heating furnace, and repeating the operation for three additional passes after which the workman holding the plate with his tongs, folds it over and then presses his heel upon the fold of the plate about its center to complete the bend, in which fashion it is laid in a squeezer and lapped down tight. The plate thus doubled is subsequently heated and re-rolled a number of times and before it is finally reduced, is re-doubled and its edges cut in manner well understood in the art. This old method of forming the plates is attended with a number of disadvantages which it is the purpose of my present invention to remedy.

With this object in view, my invention consists more especially in providing mechanical folders for doubling the sheets of metal as they are received from the reducing rolls, and in providing preferably also a cutting mechanism whereby the reduced plates can be cut'in twain in order to permit a series of folding appliances to be simultaneously justing the same as well understood in theart. By this arrangement, I am enabled at one heating to secure three passes of the metal and immediately thereafter to return the metal and thus secure three additional passes. duced, it will be discharged onto that part of the table or floor between the feeding or presenting mechanism, and the folding mechanism, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

The mechanism for folding or doubling the plates of metal preferably consists of two sets of folding plates or arms B (although one set only might be employed, and the precise shape and character of these plates or arms may be varied without departing from my invention) each of these folding plates or arms B being fixed upon a shaft 0 suitably journaled in frame S S and geared together by the pin ions V, (see Figs. 3 and 4..) Upon one of the shafts O of each set of folding plates or arms B are fixed the cranks D E by which the operation of the folding plates or arms B is ef-- fected. These cranks D E are connected together by a rod F, and to the crank E is connected also the pitman G, which receives movement from the piston rod H of the hydraulic cylinder I. Hence it will be seen that by means of the cylinder I, the cranks D-E can be' shifted as desired to cause the folding plates or arms B to be turned from the horizontal to the vertical position, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Between the sets of folding plates or armsBis placed the shearmechanism illustrated more particularly in Fig; 2 of the drawings. The upper movable shear blade N is journaled at the top of the bracket T. This rises from one of the sides S of the main frame and the lower shear bladeis bolted After the metal is sufficiently re- I to a cross plate 0 that extends between the sides S S of the main frame. 'The upper shear blade N is preferably formed with an arm or extension n, to which also is connected by a rod M the piston rod L of the hydraulic cylinder K. Hence it will be seen that by means of this cylinder K and its connections, the movable blade N of the shear mechanism, can be operated so as to sever the plate of metal mid-way between the two sets of folding appliances as shown in Fig.3 of the drawings. In that part of the main floor onto which the metal plate will be delivered as it passes from the reducing rolls A, are formed long slots W (see Fig. 3) within which work the push blocks T that are fastened to the ends of the cross head T which cross head is connected to the piston rod R of the hydraulic cylinder P, this cylinder, its piston rod and the cross head being preferably located beneath the floor level. The upper portions of the push blocks T project slightly above the floor level, so as to engagethe edge of the plates resting upon the floor, and each of the push blocks T is provided with a finger 1. adapted to overlap and hold the edges of the plates during the folding operation. Preferably also the holding fingers U are placed between the folding plates or arms B at points opposite to the holding fingers of the push block, so as to co-operate with such fingerst in holding the plate while it is being acted upon by the folding plates or arms B.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that after the metal has received the necessary passes through the sets of rolls A, it will be delivered in sheet formonto that part of the floor opposite the push blocks T. By means of the hydraulic cylinder P, these push blocks will then beadvanced so as to move the sheet or plate of metal over the folding plates or arms B which at such time will be in horizontal position as seen by full lines in Fig. 1. The operator will then, through the medium of the hydraulic cylinder K bring the shear mechanism into operation, causing the plate to be severed in twain. The operator will then, through the medium of the hydraulic cylinder I, cause the folding plates or arms B to turn from horizontal to vertical position in order to double or fold the plates and during this doubling or folding operation, the plates will be held about their central points by means of the holding fingers t and U. After the plates have thus been folded they will be removed by an attendant to be subjected to further treatment as may be required.

The several hydraulic cylinders I, K, P will be provided with pipes and controlling valves, as well understood in the art and these pipes should preferably lead to a central station where they may be under the control of a single operator.

Manifestly the details of construction above set out may be varied within wide limits without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described' my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A machine for folding plates of metal, comprising folding plates or arms B having their shafts in parallel planes, and arranged to have their working faces turned from a horizontal position upward to substantially a vertical position and brought opposite each other and close together in the folding operation, gear mechanism connecting the shaft of said plates or arms whereby they can be simultaneously operated, and suitable mechanism for advancing the plates of metal onto said plates or arms, substantially as described.

2. A machine for folding plates of metal comprising a combination of the pivoted plates or arms B, arranged to have their working faces brought opposite each other and close together in the folding operation, suitable means for turning the plates or arms B about their pivot points, and a push block located at one side of said folding plates or arms and arranged to advance the metal plates onto the folding plates or arms substantially as described.

3. A machine for folding plates of metal, comprising the combination, with suitable operating mechanism, of folding plates or arms located in proximity to each other and arranged to have their working faces brought opposite each other and close together to effect the folding of the metal, a push block arranged to move transversely to said folding plates for delivering the metal thereon, and suitable holding mechanism for engaging the plate of metal to be folded, at the point between the folding plates or arms, substantially-as described.

4:. A machine for folding plates of metal comprising the folding plates or arms B journaled in proximity to each other and pivoted to turn from a horizontal position upward to substantially a vertical position, and arranged to have their working faces brought opposite each other and closely together, suitable means for operating said folding plates and a push block arranged to inove transversely to said folding plates for delivering the metal thereon, said push block being provided with means for holding the plate of metal upon the line on which it is to be folded and suitable means for advancing and withdrawing said push-block, substantially as described.

5. A machine for folding plates of metal comprising suitable folding plates or arms B journaled in proximity to each a other, suitable means for turning said plates or arms from a horizontal position upward toward and into close proximity to each other to effect the folding of the metal, and a push block located at one side of the folding plates or arms B and means for reciprocating said push block back and forth in the direction of the axis of the folding plates or arms,'subst'antially as described whereby the sheets of metal may be advanced by the push block laterally onto the folding plates or arms, to be thereby bent upward and folded, substantially as described.

6. A machine for folding plates of metal, comprising the combination with suitable operating mechanism, of two sets of folding plates or arms located in substantially the same horizontal plane, two push blocks T, one of said, blocks being arranged at one side of and opposite to the center of each set of folding plates or arms and a cross head to which both of said push blocks are connected and means for reciprocating said cross head and push blocks, whereby the plate of metal is simultaneously delivered onto both sets of folding plates or arms, substantially as described. 7. A machine for folding plates of metal comprising the combination with suitable operating and connecting mechanism, of two sets of folding plates or arms located adjacent to each other and in substantially the same plane, shears located intermediate said two sets of folding plates or arms, and suitable mechanismfor advancing a single plate of metal onto both sets of folding plates or arms and into position to be severed by the shears, substantially as described.

THEODORE L. THOMAS. Witnesses:

GEORGE P. FISHER, J r., FRED GERLACH. 

